Director - Design for Commercial Office Development

Overview

The Director - Design will spearhead the design management aspect within Qiddiya's Commercial Office Development portfolio, an integral part of a larger giga-project masterplan. This leadership role is responsible for converting design visions into tangible, investment-quality office developments, overseeing the process from conceptualization and masterplan integration through design refinement, regulatory approvals, and documentation ready for construction. The role includes managing an international network of architectural and multidisciplinary engineering consultants.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate design competitions, select consultants, and manage novation processes for architecture and lead design firms across office and mixed-use commercial projects.
• Supervise a team of specialist design managers to steer the project through concept design, schematic stages, detailed development, and preparation of construction documents, maintaining design integrity throughout delivery.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with masterplanning, infrastructure, landscape, and sustainability teams to ensure fully integrated and coordinated design outcomes.
• Oversee consultant performance relative to scope, timelines, and budgets, including chairing design review sessions and technical workshops.
• Develop and implement consultant performance KPIs to monitor design phases, compiling data for sharing with the central procurement function.
• Ensure designs comply with Saudi Building Code, sustainability standards such as Mostadam/LEED, civil defense requirements, as well as Qiddiya's and COBU’s design, technical, smart, and sustainability guidelines.
• Conduct value engineering analyses that uphold the quality and investment worthiness of commercial office assets.
• Present design progress and proposals to executive leadership, investment committees, and relevant government entities.
• Assist leasing and investment teams by translating market and tenant needs into detailed design briefs for office products.
• Mentor and expand an internal design team to support the growing pipeline of Commercial Office Development projects.
• Regularly review and update COBU guidelines focusing on design, technical, smart technology integration, and sustainability to drive continuous improvement.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Architecture, Construction Management, Project Management, or related fields.
• Professional registration in relevant disciplines (e.g., Chartered Engineer) is advantageous.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification considered a plus.
• Minimum of 12 years’ experience in design management, including senior leadership roles on large-scale commercial office or mixed-use developments.
• Proven leadership in managing design teams to meet project programs while balancing cost, time, and quality constraints.
• In-depth knowledge of both local and international design standards, codes, and regulations.
• Experience in the Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, is preferred.
• Successful delivery of BCO Grade A or investment-grade office towers/business park developments from concept to handover.
• Strong expertise in design review processes, regulatory approval procedures, and leading practices in commercial office design worldwide.
• Demonstrated ability managing multi-disciplinary international consultant teams encompassing architecture, structural, MEP, facade, and sustainability experts.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and executive communication skills, equipped to work effectively in a fast-moving giga-project environment.
• Experience managing multiple concurrent projects with conflicting priorities and diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to support teams through organizational changes and provide strategic oversight to prioritize workloads effectively under deadlines.
• Fluent written and verbal English communication skills with the capability to influence senior leadership and diverse audiences.
• Proficiency with enterprise-level digital design tools and software applications.
• Strong leadership qualities to inspire large and varied teams and achieve results.
• Strategic thinker capable of leading the design function’s direction while endorsing or challenging practices as necessary.